RAW | Zach Hyman 11.24.25

RAW | Zach Hyman 11.24.25

It must have been felt good to get back in the lineup. Just a thought on being able to kind of get back and I know it’s been a long road for you. Yeah, it’s uh it’s been five games now, which is crazy short period of time, but uh felt great to come back. It was good to to join the group. Uh and yeah, it was a long road back, but good to be back. Do you get a different perspective when you’re not in the lineup, seeing what’s going on with the group, and then when you get in the lineup, does that kind of help you in any way? Yeah, it’s different. It’s different when you’re watching from afar. It’s It’s a lot easier. um it’s a lot easier to watch it from up top or in on TV or or whatever the case may be. It’s it’s much faster when you’re out there. So, but yeah, a good perspective just uh I mean it’s it’s been a it’s been a tough schedule just in general for for the for the guys and I was coming back a part of it. I think I played five in eight days or something like that. So, um I think we’re in a good spot. Where do you think your games at now the last five games? Good. My legs feel great. Um getting up to speed. I feel I feel up to speed. I mean, I played a bunch. Um, and yeah, I feel really good. It’s like they shot you out of their cannon that first game. Do you get that sense? Like what was it like? You know, been it been a while. Yeah. Yeah. I just tried to pick up where I left off. Um, and had lots of energy. So, um, yeah, was good. Given the schedule, the number of road games, some injuries and such, what do you think the sort of reasonable take is on your guys season so far and those influences on it versus, you know, not being good enough for stretches as well? How do you process it? Well, I think it’s always good to face adversity early on in the season, and I think our group has um had to face it enough over the last couple years. So, um, nobody wants to face it, but we’re comfortable being in uncomfortable situations. And I think, um, given the schedule, given the condensed schedule where we’re at, I think we’re actually in in a pretty good spot where, um, you know, I think we’re going to get guys back and get, you get to see what our roster looks like healthy. We haven’t had a healthy roster all year. Um, so I think from that standpoint, that’ll be good just to get the full group back. And then I think we’re starting to, you know, build our our team game. This trip was tough. He played against really really good opponents and um able to come out out of it even. So I think we were we’re in a good spot to build. You’ve been able to turn that corner the last couple of seasons, right? Rough start, but you figure it out. Yeah. The the team’s overall defending this year seems to not be where it was before. Is that does that make the turnaround more difficult or more concerning that it’s just going to happen here or you can make it happen? I mean, I think given where we are, um, and how many things we can improve on, I think that’s you can look at it two ways. You can be a pessimist and say, “Wow, there’s a lot of things these guys need to clean up, or you can be an optimist and say, “Wow, if we clean these things up, look how good we can be.” Right? So, and which are you? I’m always the optimist. Yeah. Um, and I think um I think this team has shown over the years, every year the a team’s different, but I think this team has shown over the years not to not to doubt, you know, doubt this group and not to count this group out. And given where we are, I think we’re in a phenomenal spot to to clean things up and to to get out out front. What did that win against Florida to finish the road trip do for you guys in terms of just feeling I guess going on how trip went as a whole or better? Yeah, you definitely feel better coming off of a win especially against a team like that. Uh I mean to get three or four points against Tampa and Florida um in that you know on that road trip at the end of a road trip grind of a road trip uh was very encouraging and and having said that again lots for us to clean up and and lots for us to to get better and it starts from defending out. I think a lot of offense is created from not spending time in your D zone and and I think that’s something that that doesn’t get noticed as much is if you defend better you’re you’re bound to be better offensively just because you’re going to spend more time in the other zone. It was a It was a bumpy start to the season for Trent Frederick. Um, obviously the organization’s committed to him, right? They believe in him. I’m sure you guys do, too. Getting back into the lineup, seeing where he was at. What do you maybe sense this this player needed because his game’s turned around a bit here and if you play a role in helping him get there? Yeah, I I love Freddy. I think he’s got such a unique skill set. Uh, not many guys are as big as him. uh physical uh handle the puck as well being that size and can shoot it. I you saw the goal against Tampa that I mean not many guys can shoot the puck like that. So um I think he’s played you know I think he’s played really well the last three games and and I’ve I’ve enjoyed playing playing with him and uh I think he’s got he wants you know he wants to air just turn on he wants to be a an impact player and I think he has the capabilities of being that. Um, so much of this game is confidence and uh, people from the outside just just see, you know, players, but there’s a lot going on mentally, you know, with everybody, you know, from Connor all the way down to, uh, somebody who gets called up. Like the a lot of your game is is is mental and confidence-based. And I think he’s starting to, you know, build confidence. And I think the last three games he’s played really

Zach speaks to the media about how he’s felt in his first few games of the season.